Product Key from Factory clone

[Peroxis]

Is there anyway of me obtaining a product key or at least activating windows 7 on this drive?

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I have just had issues with windows becoming unusable on its original drive.
Everything else was working fine only windows really had any issues.
So I have tried to install windows on another drive and keep it dedicated to windows but I don't have a Product Key because it was put on by the company that assembled the PC.

I do still have it installed on my other hard drive but I am unable to remove it, the way this is set up now I can at least still access everything on the drive. I would like to remove windows from the other drive but I wouldn't know how.

 

[SIW2]

Several ways to do it :

Make an image of your original windows installation.

Then restore the image to the new HD.

After that, try a repair install to fix your windows issues.

You will need to make bootable media to do the restore, the program below does it for you as well as creating and restoring images.

Best imaging program - the standard version is free :

Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 Free Backup and Restore Software


Select System Backup http://www.backup-utility.com/system-backup-software.html

To create bootable restore media: http://www.backup-utility.com/features/create-bootable-disc.html



Try this first:

Another way - probably simpler - but only if your 7 was either a regular retail or a system builder pre install. You would probably have that if it is a desktop from a specialist manufacturer, like chillblast, palicomp, or similar. From your system specs, that seems likely.You can find the product key with any number of programs , produkey for example. http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

 

[NoelDP]

The company that assembled the PC is obliged to affix a COA sticker with the product Key on it to the machine - are you saying they neglected to do that (or haven't you looked?)

Is the hard drive the ONLY change you made to the system?

 

[Peroxis]

I have the windows 7 CD etc but there is no product key.
I used a program to find my key before but it said I couldn't use a factory key or something.
forget exactly what it said but I installed the program after using it.

Yeh hard drive is only change, I had same 3 drives in before but luckily one I had barely used.
If I create an image wouldn't that possibly be copying whatever problems I previously had with windows before?

I will try contact the manufacturer to give me a key

 

[NoelDP]

If the machine came preinstalled and you don't have a COA sticker, you have no license to use Windows. If you paid the manufacturer for a machine with a Windows license, then they are either guilty of fraud or at least of misrepresentation - and can be prosecuted. You should pursue them with threats of legal action (and mean it!).

 

[Peroxis]

Well its confusing because I have a sticker. And on it does say COA Barcodes so I imagine that's the COA sticker
but it doesn't have a product key on it, so its kind of confusing.

It says.

OEM System Builder Pack
Intended for system builders ONLY
www.microsoft.com/oem

If you open this package:
Each individual software license inside this package may ONLY be distributed with a fully assembled computer.

Which would all be fine if reformatting wasn't something that had to happen sometimes.

 

[NoelDP]

That's not a COA sticker - although it indicates that there should be one - it's the sticker from the OUTSIDE of the OEM_SB package (which includes the COA sticker on the inside)

 

[Peroxis]

Theres a chance ive lost it since I have moved recently.
though don't think I would have needed to use my windows 7 cd before.

Is there any easy way to just buy a new key? I don't feel like I have any other options

 

[Yard Dog]

This may or may not work.. to retrieve your key : Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit, for software, hardware and security configuration information on your computer. Software license management, IT asset management, cyber security audits, and more.

 

[Peroxis]

I used something like that before got a key but it said I wasn't allowed to activate with it. because its for new system only or something.

 

[NoelDP]

Theres a chance ive lost it since I have moved recently.
though don't think I would have needed to use my windows 7 cd before.

Is there any easy way to just buy a new key? I don't feel like I have any other options

This is one reason why the company is required by their contract with Microsoft to affix the sticker to the machine's case before shipping. If they didn't do so, then they are in breach of contract.

It may be worth calling the MS Activation Center and pleading your case with them (assuming you can't extract the Key from the old drive), since you appear to have the outer sticker but not the inner one.
Phone your local number from this list...
https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/existing-customers/activation-centers.aspx
when asked which service you require by the telephone ansafone, do NOT reply - this should force an operator to respond, who can deal with you.

Good Luck!

 

[NoelDP]

I used something like that before got a key but it said I wasn't allowed to activate with it. because its for new system only or something.

See if you can get that Key again- post the last 5 characters of it, and it'll be enough for me to check it against my database of OEM_SLP and other Keys which can't be used.